Orange County punk rock veterans Social Distortion have confirmed the release of their long-awaited eighth studio album, Born To Kill. Arriving on 8 May 2026 via Epitaph Records, Born To Kill ends a 15-year gap between Social Distortion albums and delivers 11 tracks of no-frills, loud-and-proud rock ‘n’ roll built for sweaty clubs and big festival singalongs. The album’s title track, already a recent live favourite, is out now alongside an official video.
Frontman Mike Ness describes the record as a shot of forward motion after a difficult period, and the new songs balance bite and heart in a way that feels unmistakably Social D, defiant, streetwise, and wired with melody.
Born To Kill was co-produced by Ness and Dave Sardy. The record also features guest appearances from Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and Lucinda Williams, while the cover art is a collaboration between Ness and Shepard Fairey. Pre-orders are available from socialdistortion.ffm.to/borntokill.
This release continues a catalogue that includes Mommy’s Little Monster (1983), Prison Bound (1988), Social Distortion (1990), Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992), White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996), Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll (2004), and Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011).
Social Distortion will take Born To Kill on the road across Europe this summer, including UK appearances at Download Festival (Donington) and a London headline show at Koko.
Social Distortion – European tour dates
03 June – Sentrum Scene – Oslo, Norway
04 June – Sweden Rock – Solvesborg, Sweden
06 June – Rock Im Park – Nurnberg, Germany
07 June – Rock Am Ring – Nurburg, Germany
09 June – Columbiahalle – Berlin, Germany
11 June – Rock For People – Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
12 June – Nova Rock Festival – Nickelsdorf, Austria
14 June – Download Festival – Donington, United Kingdom
16 June – Koko – London, United Kingdom
18 June – Hellfest – Clisson, France
20 June – Azkena Rock Festival – Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
23 June – Carroponte – Milan, Italy
24 June – Halle 622 – Zurich, Switzerland
26 June – Vainstream – Munster, Germany
27 June – Copenhell – Copenhagen, Denmark
29 June – Amsterdamse Bos Theatre – Amsterdam, Netherlands
30 June – Docks – Hamburg, Germany
02 July – Les Eurockeennes – Belfort, France
03 July – Rock Werchter – Werchter, Belgium
04 July – Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion – Dresden, Germany
